Bars, Pubs to reopen in Delhi from September 9: Reports

New Delhi : Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved the government's proposal to reopen the liquor bars and pubs from September 9 onwards, said a report. Pubs, restaurants and hotels that have the required licenses will also be allowed to serve liquor. 

All the businesses which opt to serve liquor in their premises will have to strictly follow the rules and guidelines related to standard operating procedures announced by the Central government - including the usage of masks and maintaining social distance.

In the month of June Delhi reported an average case of 4000 per day it slumped a little in July and most of August. Currently, around 2000 new cases are being reported in Delhi every day.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had been demanding the complete reopening of the state as he believes they have adequate arrangements to deal with the influx of coronavirus patients. 

The Delhi government had opened liquor shops with restrictions weeks ago, but bars and pubs had remained shut.

Tax revenue from the sale of liquor is one of the biggest earnings of Delhi government. 

Tax revenue of states and the Central governments has taken a severe hit because of months of economic inactivity due to coronavirus lockdown. The country's gross domestic product or GDP contracted 23.9 per cent in the April-June period - much worse than economists' estimates.

Last month, the Centre allowed resuming Metro rail services in Delhi and other places as it released its Unlock4 guidelines. The service in the national capital, which catered to lakhs of passengers every day, will resume from September 7, in a graded manner.